Summer 2008 marked the pilot phase of Arlington Schools Foundation’s Enriching Elementary Education grant. Teachers from three grades met for two-day workshops during which they cooperatively developed social studies curricula, lessons, and resources to be piloted in the 2008-09 school year. Integrating reading, math, science, art, music, and other subjects was an explicit goal of their work.
Total expenditures: $13,460
Grade 1: Folktales from Africa and Mexico Participants: 11 (seven classroom teachers, one reading teacher/coach, one art teacher, one music teacher, Director of K-12 Social Studies)
Teachers examined and selected appropriate read-aloud and leveled-reader materials for instruction focused on African and Mexican folktales. They then created create pilot lessons on these topics to present and share with other teachers. Art and music teachers focused on integrating African and Mexican art, music and culture into student learning.
Grade 2: Japan Participants: 10 (seven classroom teachers, one reading teacher/coach, one art teacher, Director of K-12 Social Studies)
Teachers created a cohesive, easy-to-follow curriculum map with essential themes, questions, and concepts for teaching about Japan, as well as suggested activities and reading materials. The reading teacher helped integrate the teaching of reading and writing into this curriculum, and the art teacher worked on lessons that will complement the classroom teacher’s study of Japan.
Grade 5: Early American History (including MCAS preparation) Participants: 9 (seven teachers, one reading teacher/coach, Director of K-12 Social Studies)
Description: Teachers developed four in-depth units on Exploration, the 13 Colonies, the Revolution, and the Constitution. The reading teacher helped to imbed reading and writing materials and skills into these units.